WAVE AGAINST RAVE PARTIES GROWING

City Councillor Vows To Stop New Year's Bash At CNE Grounds

City-owned Exhibition Place should not be the venue for a New Year's Eve
all-night rave party expected to attract up to 4,000 young revellers to the
Automotive Building, says Councillor Tom Jakobek.

"A rave is a drug haven," Jakobek said yesterday. "It has to be stopped. We
should not be condoning it, we should not be sending paid (police)
officers, the city should not be renting property."

The Ontario government wants to impose restrictions to make it virtually
impossible to stage raves, blamed for three drug-related deaths this year.

The event's promoter, Lifeforce Industries, has endured a torrent of
complaints about music blaring across east-end neighbourhoods from a rave
it staged last weekend outside The Docks, on the waterfront.

Jakobek, whose wife was awakened by the music, expressed anger about the
noise but said his main concern is for the well-being of party-goers.

"We have documented evidence that every time a rave party occurs, young
people suffer from drug overdoses in these parties," he said.

Jakobek said he has sent a letter of protest to Councillor Joe Pantalone,
chair of Exhibition Place, where eight raves have been staged so far this
year - four by Lifeforce.

"I'm telling him in no uncertain terms, cancel that party. And if he
doesn't, I'm going to get city council to do it."

Pantalone defended the Exhibition Place events, which he said permit kids
to have fun in a safe environment.

Exhibition Place requires 60 private security officers, 20 police officers,
two sergeants and an undisclosed number of undercover officers for raves -
held in the Better Living Centre and Automotive Building.

"Those of us in government have to balance the fact that being young means
sometimes you want to have a good time and push the edge," Pantalone said.

Banning raves from Exhibition Place could force them into abandoned
warehouses with no security, he said.

Mayor Mel Lastman said he was also concerned and planned to check with
exhibition officials about how they can ensure raves are drug-free.

"When I hear raves, I hear drugs, and when I hear drugs, I get concerned,"
Lastman said. "They are a problem and they are a serious problem because
people are being killed."

Lifeforce co-owner Rob Lisi said he stages large-scale raves in legal
establishments and shouldn't be lumped in with other promoters whose events
have ended in tragedy.

"We do everything humanly possible, and always have, to ensure our events
are successful, secure and safe," Lisi said.